MOSCOW, 6th May, 2025 (WAM) -- As part of an official visit to Moscow, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) organised two lectures titled "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - A Place for All, Creativity in a Specialised Field" at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and Moscow State University.

Delivered by Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of SZGMC, the lectures formed part of a broader cultural visit involving meetings with senior officials from prominent Russian academic and cultural institutions.

Attended by around 100 students, including Emiratis, the sessions outlined the Centre's strategic role in conveying the mosque's civilisational message of tolerance and intercultural dialogue. Al Obaidli emphasised the mosque's unique position as a global place of worship, drawing more than six million annual visitors-81 percent of whom are international tourists-and regularly ranking among the world's top cultural landmarks.

He noted that these achievements reflect the legacy of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who envisioned the mosque as a cultural bridge. Architectural features such as the lunar illumination system symbolise the Islamic calendar's connection to lunar cycles and represent a shared heritage across civilisations.

Al Obaidli presented several of the Centre's youth-focused initiatives under the Al Shabab Al Banie programme, including Ibn Al-Dar, Junior Cultural Guide, Future Guide, and youth discussions, alongside immersive visitor experiences such as Diya - A Universe of Light, the El-Delleel multimedia guide, and the Bari Al Jami' mural. The Centre also offers over 5,400 multilingual guided tours annually and has extended its programming to include night tours.

He highlighted the Spaces of Light photography award, valued at AED850,000, which has drawn more than 9,400 photographers from 70 countries. The award celebrates the role of visual art in fostering cross-cultural understanding and elevating the mosque's universal mission.

Al Obaidli also discussed Ramadan at the Mosque, which hosts over 1.8 million visitors annually and distributes more than 2.15 million Iftar meals, alongside lectures and traditional events. He reviewed SZGMC's global outreach through international travel exhibitions and its participation in events such as Asia Travel Market, World Travel Market, ITB Berlin, and the China International Fair for Investment and Trade. Mosque models have been exhibited in over 20 embassies and institutions worldwide.

Noting a rise in average visitor stay from one to six hours, Al Obaidli credited this to exceptional service quality. The Centre employs 515 professionals and records more than 1.17 million annual work hours to manage comprehensive infrastructure including tunnels, elevators, lighting systems, and visitor transport.

During the visit, SZGMC met with leaders from MGIMO, the Russian State Library, and the Fund for Support of Islamic Culture, Science and Education to explore cooperation in cultural dialogue and museological exchange, including through the Light & Peace Museum.

The delegation also visited leading institutions such as the Kremlin Museums, the State Museum of Oriental Art, and the Russian State Library to observe best practices in museum management.

The visit featured the unveiling of a Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque model, the Light & Peace mobile library, and the Spaces of Light exhibition at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. These events were held under the Jusoor Programme's Minarets of the Two Capitals initiative, which has launched over 21 mosque models globally since 2012 in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.